Special requirements

Do you have a disability or special requirements?

We have a number of ways to help people taking our exams who need special arrangements due to temporary or long term difficulties or conditions. For example, special arrangements might be available for you if you have a broken arm, or you have a long term illness, or a specific learning difficulty. Please get in touch with your exam centre who can advise you.
Specific advice is available below for:

If you are blind, partially sighted or have problems seeing, we may be able to help you take your Cambridge English exam.

What do I need to do?

It may take several months for some special arrangements to be made for you, so you should make your application as soon as possible through your Cambridge English exam centre. For IELTS, you should apply through your IELTS test centre.

What will the Cambridge English exam centre do?

Your centre will:

tell you the application deadline (this may be several months before your exam, depending on the arrangements you need)

ask for full details of your visual difficulty

make the arrangements you need to take the exam.

If your centre does not have the equipment or space you need (e.g. a separate room), they will do their best to help you to find another centre that does.

Your centre may also ask you to provide a medical certificate.

What special arrangements can I ask for?

There are lots of different options – choose what you need from the list below. You or your teacher can then ask your centre to make all the arrangements you need.

1. Extra time

If you have visual difficulties, you will almost certainly need extra time to complete a paper. You can ask for an extra 25% of the normal time for the paper.

You can ask for more than this (e.g. if it takes you a long time to read the questions or write your answers). Remember, however, that too much extra time could make you very tired.

You can also ask for breaks while taking a paper, in addition to any extra time you need. Your centre will tell you what you can have.

2. Help with reading the question papers

If you are blind or partially sighted, you can ask to use the following types of equipment:

hand-held magnifiers

screen magnification software

screen reader software

video magnifiers or closed-circuit television (CCTV)

reading machines

refreshable Braille displays.

You can also ask for a ‘reader’. This is a person who will read and reread the questions to you. Please also see section 8: Having someone read to you or write down your answers, below.

3. Help with writing your answers

If you are blind or partially sighted, you can ask to write your answers in the following ways:

a. Use any of the following machines:

mechanical Braille keyboard

electronic Braille keyboard, linked to a printer

computer or word processor (though you will not be allowed to use the spellcheck, grammar check, thesaurus or similar functions)

Braille notetaker.

b. Speak your answers to a person who writes them down for you. Please also see section 8: Having someone read to you or write down your answers, below.

c. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper instead of using the computer-read answer sheet.

4. Braille question papers

Some exams are available as Braille question papers. Braille papers can be produced in SEB (Standard English Braille) and UEB (Unified English Braille) and are available as:

contracted (Grade 2) Braille

uncontracted (Grade 1) Braille.

Refer to the modified materials section below to see if your exam is available in Braille.

5. Enlarged question papers

There are enlarged question papers available for some exams. We change the question papers, taking out any ‘visual’ material which is not needed for answering the question. We then make large-print versions of the papers in A4 size. The print size looks like this:

Most Cambridge English exams include a Listening and a Speaking test. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulties speaking, we may be able to help you take your exam.

What do I need to do?

It may take several months for some special arrangements to be made for you, so you should make your application as soon as possible through your Cambridge English exam centre. For IELTS, you should apply through your IELTS test centre.

What will the Cambridge English exam centre do?

Your centre will:

tell you the application deadline (this may be several months before your exam, depending on the special arrangements you need)

ask for full details of your difficulty

make the arrangements you need to take the exam.

If your centre does not have the equipment or space you need (e.g. a separate room), they will do their best to help you to find another centre that does.

Your centre may also ask you to provide a medical certificate.

What special arrangements can I ask for?

There are lots of different options – choose what you need from the list below. You or your teacher can then ask your centre to make the arrangements you need.

1.Hearing aids, headphones and other equipment

Most Cambridge English exams have a Listening test, where candidates:

read some questions which are printed on a question paper

listen to a recording

write answers to the questions on a separate answer sheet.

If you have hearing difficulties, here are some ways we can help you:

If you normally use a hearing aid, you may use it in the exam, but remember to tell your centre before the test.

If you normally use devices such as wireless systems or personal FM systems, you may ask the centre for permission to use this type of equipment.

If you can hear with the help of headphones or special amplification equipment, you may ask the centre for permission to use this type of equipment to hear the recording.

If you are using headphones, the supervisor (the person who will give you your Listening test) must be able to hear and control the recording. This means they will listen to an external loudspeaker or use a second pair of headphones. You are not allowed to use a personal CD player, MP3 player or other similar device to listen to the recording.

If you are using special equipment, such as special amplification equipment, the centre will normally give you your exam in a separate room

2. Hearing-impaired (lip-reading) versions of Listening tests

For some exams, you can ask for a hearing-impaired (lip-reading) version of a Listening test.

Instead of playing a recording, the supervisor (the person who will give you your Listening test) will read out the material to you. They will read out each text two or three times, depending on the exam.

The supervisor will stop reading from time to time during the second reading. This will give you time to write your answers.

Make sure you:

can lip-read a person who is speaking English

practise with sample papers before the exam.

It may be possible for you to practise lip-reading with the person who will give you your Listening test before you take the exam. Ask your centre.

See if you can apply for a special Listening test for your exam in the What modified materials can I have? section on this page.

3. Special arrangements for Speaking tests

For most Cambridge English Speaking tests (except IELTS), you take your test with a partner.

If you have hearing or speaking difficulties, you can ask to:

have extra time if it takes you longer than usual to say things or to understand what people say to you

take the test with a partner who is not being assessed (for example, someone you know who has already taken the Speaking exam that day.) This may help you to lip-read what they say more easily

take the test without a partner – in the parts of the test which usually ask both candidates to talk to each other, you talk to the examiner instead.

See if there is a single candidate version of the Speaking test for the examination you are taking in the What modified materials can I have? section below.

You are not allowed to use signing in a Speaking test.

4. Exemptions and Endorsed Certificates

If you have severe hearing (or speaking) difficulties, and the special arrangements listed above are not enough (for example, if you cannot lip-read), you can ask for exemption from taking the Listening test or the Speaking test in certain exams. This means you do not have to take the test.

For all Cambridge English exams, you must apply for exemption before taking your exam. Ask your centre for further information.

You can apply for exemption in:

C2 Proficiency (CPE)

C1 Advanced (CAE)

B2 First (FCE)

B2 First for Schools(FCE)

B1 Preliminary (PET)

B1 Preliminary for Schools(PET)

A2 Key (KET)

A2 Key for Schools(KET)

Cambridge English: Business Certificates (BEC)

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

If you are allowed exemption from a component, e.g. the Listening test, your certificate will have ‘EXEMPT’ printed next to the exempted component.

Exemption from IELTS

For IELTS, you can ask for exemption from a component. You will be given a score for the missing component based on your performance on the other parts of the test. This score will be used to calculate your Overall IELTS Band Score.

Your Test Report Form will have the following statement printed on it:

‘Due to extreme speaking/hearing (etc.) difficulties, this candidate was exempt from the Speaking/Listening (etc.) test. The Speaking/Listening (etc.) test Band Score has been notionalised on the basis of the average of the other three Band Scores.’

If you have specific learning difficulties, like dyslexia, we may be able to help you take your Cambridge English exam.

What do I need to do?

It may take several months for some special arrangements to be made for you, so you should make your application as soon as possible through your Cambridge English exam centre. For IELTS, you should apply through your IELTS test centre.

What will the Cambridge English exam centre do?

Your centre will:

tell you the application deadline (this may be several months before your exam, depending on the special arrangements you need)

ask for full details of your learning difficulty

make the arrangements you need to take the exam

If your centre does not have the equipment or space you need (e.g. a separate room), they will try to help you to find another centre that does.

Your centre may also ask you to provide a medical certificate.

You must give the centre a report about your learning difficulty:

prepared when you were aged 13 or older

including details of the degree of your learning difficulty and the tests which were carried out

written by a fully qualified educational, clinical or chartered psychologist, or other appropriately-qualified specialist assessor.

If you do not have (or cannot get) a report like this, talk to your Cambridge English exam centre.

What special arrangements can I ask for?

There are lots of different options – choose what you need from the list below. You or your teacher can then ask your centre to make the arrangements you need.

Once you have received permission for any special arrangements mentioned below, your answers will be marked in the same way as all other candidates. For example, if you make a spelling or grammar mistake, you may lose marks.

1. Extra time

You may need extra time to complete a paper (e.g. if it takes you a long time to read the questions or texts, or write your answers).

You can normally ask for an extra 25% of the normal time for a paper. So, if a paper takes one hour, you will get an extra 15 minutes.

You can ask for more than 25% extra time if you or your teacher think you will need it. Remember, however, that too much extra time may make you very tired.

You may also ask for a special version of a Listening test, which is a way of giving you extra time in the test. The supervisor will:

stop the CD before each part of the test to give you enough time to read the questions

stop the CD at certain points during each part to give you enough time to write one or more answers

stop the CD after each part to give you enough time to check your answers.

As well as (or instead of) extra time, you can ask for supervised breaks. This means you can stop writing and take a break alone in another room. This might help if you have difficulty concentrating for long periods. You will be supervised while you take your break.

3. Writing your answers using a computer

You can ask for permission to write your answers using a computer or word processor.

You must not use the spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions if you want to use a computer or word processor.

If you have permission to use a computer, remember:

Your centre may not have equipment, such as a computer, that you can use. However, you may be able to use your own equipment.

You will have to sit alone in a separate room. If your centre does not have space for you to do the exam with a computer, they will do their best to help you find another centre where you can take the exam.

You must write your own answers. You cannot read out your answers to someone who writes them down for you.

You cannot use voice recognition software (programs which turn speech into text).

4. Reading the question papers

You must read the question papers yourself. Although it may take you longer to read the question papers, you are not allowed to:

have someone read them to you (a reader)

use a computer with screen-reading software.

5. Having a copier (or transcriber)

If your handwriting is very difficult to read, you may ask your centre to copy (make a transcript of) your work.

This means that, at the end of the exam, you will read out your answers to the copier, including all the punctuation.

The copier will write down an exact copy of your answers, including any mistakes in grammar, spelling or punctuation.

6. Help filling in your answer sheets

In most Cambridge English exam papers, you have to copy (transfer) your answers to an answer sheet which is then scanned by a computer.

If you find it difficult to follow the numbers or order of questions on a page, you may be allowed to write your answers on a separate piece of paper or, sometimes, directly on to the question paper. Ask your centre for advice.

7. Transparent coloured overlays

You may ask for permission to use transparent coloured overlays if you normally use them.

8. You may apply for enlarged print copies of an exam paper

Enlarged print papers are also called ‘Modified Large Print’ papers. The question paper is modified, and anything which is not needed for answering the question – for example, frames around texts – is removed. All the words in these papers are in the same print size. They look like this:

examination

Each page in these papers is A4 size.

9. Other equipment

Ask your authorised exam centre if you want to use any other type of equipment, for example, a screen magnifier.

Special Requirements – guidance notes for teachers

Guidance Notes for Special Requirements give teachers useful information about the different Special Requirements versions available for Cambridge English exams. They contain a description of how materials are adapted for different special requirement needs, along with examples demonstrating what materials might look like, useful information about special arrangements for taking the exams, and FAQs.